Our First Real Day in the Veneto

We slept long and hard and woke up to another day of “fa brutto tempo”. Unseasonably cold and rainy, but after a lovely breakfast (yes, Brad had bacon, eggs and toast) and the loan of an umbrella, we decided to explore the town. We got as far as the castle, and the rains came – our cue to go visit Giulio and Alexandra.

Snow capped mountains, a steam engine in cafe’s yard and sheep and donkeys led the way to the true Prosecco region of Valdobiadene and the village of Vidor. We met Giulio and Alexandra in Romania 10 years ago and became fast friends. They recently inherited an 11th century Abbey and we couldn’t wait to visit. It’s breathtaking. www.abbaziadisantabona.com

Abbazia Santa Bona has a storied history, and was the home Giulio grew up in. Sited on the Piave River with curated woodlands and a treasure trove of antiques, it’s like your best dream of Italy. He and Alexandra and the children live there part time and are trying to find the best use for it – it should be shared. If my best and brightest have some ideas, please send them my way.

We talked and laughed and Giulio made lunch and Alexandra took us on a walk through the forest. It was like stepping back in time. We have toured a lot of ancient structures, but there is a feeling here that is special. There is much work to do, but it’s more of a mission of preservation than commerce. It has to be done.

Yes we are in Italy, yes we are visiting friends in an 11th century abbey, yes we are drinking Prosecco from their vineyards and eating fabulous local food, but we shared a day with friends. We traded ideas, we caught up, we laughed, we hugged. That was the most beautiful part.

Stopping to smell the roses with dear friends is what makes life worth living.

And on to Villa Maser which was designed by Andrea Palladio in 1570. A perfect example of what we now call “Palladian architecture”. Then on to Antonio Canova’s Gipsoteca, a museum dedicated to the famous sculptor from the 1700’s. After my recent lecture on Michelangelo, it made the sculptures all that more interesting.

And then back to the beautiful village of Asolo and our cozy hotel. We now have made friends with Francesco, who greets us like returning royalty, and we’re settled into our deep bathtubs and cozy robes before dinner. There are many little osterias in the Centro Storico, but the food is fabulous here, we can tumble upstairs after a full bottle of the wonderful local Valpolicella, and we’re on vacation, not a race to see everything.

We shared stories with the Australian man sitting next to us, we ate leisurely, we drank a whole bottle of wine and are ensconced in our suite documenting the day. Cold, rainy, gray, but full to the brim with experiences. Make the most of every day – we only have so many of them.